Driving Tool Offset Guide Rails Compact Design
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing driving tools for fasteners are bulky due to the placement of guide rails around the coil spring, making them unsuitable for use in narrow spaces.
Innovation Solution
The guide rails are arranged to be offset from the central axis of the coil spring, allowing for a reduced size of the driving mechanism by deviating the virtual line connecting the guide rails from the central axis, and incorporating a string-shaped member and pulley to transmit driving force efficiently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the guide rails are disposed on both sides sandwiching the central axis of the coil spring, then the plunger movement is properly guided, but the lateral width of the driving mechanism increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by deviating the virtual line connecting the guide rails from the central axis of the coil spring. The guide rails are arranged at positions that are not symmetric with respect to the spring's central axis, creating an asymmetric layout that reduces the lateral width while maintaining functional effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the spatial arrangement by offsetting the guide rails in the lateral dimension from the central axis. This dimensional repositioning allows the guide rails to maintain their guiding function while occupying less space in the critical lateral direction, effectively reducing the overall lateral width of the driving mechanism.
2Volume of stationary object
If the guide rails are offset from the central axis of the coil spring, then the size of the driving tool is reduced, but the structural balance may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
The asymmetric arrangement of guide rails relative to the coil spring's central axis enables compact sizing while the overall structural design maintains balance through compensating elements and balanced mass distribution in the driving mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by optimizing the specific positions of the guide rails in the lateral direction while maintaining appropriate structural support and balance in other regions. The offset arrangement is locally optimized for size reduction while the overall structure maintains necessary stability through strategic placement of supporting components.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration reduces the overall size of the driving tool while maintaining effective operation by minimizing the lateral width and enhancing structural integrity.
Implementation Method 1
an urging member that is extendable and contractible in the first direction and serves as a drive source of the plunger
Implementation Method 2
guide rails configured to guide movement of the plunger in the first direction
Implementation Method 3
a string-shaped member configured to transmit a driving force of the urging member to the plunger; and a pulley on which the string-shaped member is hooked
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A driving tool includes: a plunger movable in a first direction along a direction in which a fastener is launched; an urging member that is extendable and contractible in the first direction and serves as a drive source of the plunger; and guide rails configured to guide movement of the plunger in the first direction. The guide rails extend along the first direction of the urging member and are disposed on both sides sandwiching the urging member, and the guide rails are arranged such that a virtual line connecting the guide rails on the both sides of the urging member is deviated from a central axis of the urging member in a plan view of the urging member as viewed from the first direction.